SACRIFICE OF SIX MEN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 5 January 1935, Page 11

SACRIFICE OF SIX MEN

Dangers and Hardships Among the Lepers

IS 1 * members of the Toe H Institution | in London have voluntarily sacriI ficed the comrort of established careers J for the dangers and hardships of work I among the lepers in tropical countries. J Five of them entered the Living- | stone College at Leyton, East London, I to receive nine months’ training for their new life. The sixth has already sufficient training and will shortly proceed to his appointed post. These volunteers for a life of self-sacrifice come from varying walks of life—the professions, commerce and industry. ! When, some months ago, the Rev. T. B. (Tubby) Clayton, head of the Toe H movement, returned from a tour of West Africa, he told the Toe H members of the distressing conditions he had witnessed among the lep-! ers ,and appealed to any of the men ! who felt a call for the work to offer i ihemselves. There was an immediate response and six volunteers were soon enrolled. They were introduced to the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association and j flic Livingstone College authorities, I who will control their training and I send them to their appointments. Each I of the men was specially selected he- ; cause of his definite conviction of the [ call for the work. It means voluntary j exile from their homes for at least five years and possibly for the rest tiiiiiiiit illinium nun iiimirtiiiiiiiiitimiimiitmaiiiiiiiiiif mu iiHiiiiiiiiiimiiaiiiiiiiimiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiuiiiuuiiiiiiiaiii

their lives, with, only occasional periods of furlough. Always they will be confronted with the dread possibility of contracting the disease themselves or suffering from other deadly maladies of the tropics. One of the chosen men is Mr W. A. Lambert, of Preston. He has for years been employed in the experimental department of Messrs James Lee and Brother, cotton manufacturers, of Preston. He was educated at Preston Technical College and was district scoutmaster of the town for two years. • “I had never thought, until I heard of Mr Clayton's appeal, of giving myself to the work of alleviating the sufferings of the lepers,'’ Mr Lambert said. “I have always striven to help my fellow-men and have been attracted by missionary work, but I had never considered going as a missionary myself until about six months ago when Mr Clayton’s appeal was made. “After very careful consideration I decided I had definite guidance to offer myself. I am satisfied that my work lies among the lepers. “There is no spirit of adventure about it, I assure you. I felt, and still feel, impelled by a power behind my : self to give my life to the relief of the sufferings of those poor people.” IHIIIItllllll!llllllll||rtkf||IM|||«f (| 11111111111111 ilium (I || itiiiUMf